The association representing local cable franchising authorities asked the Federal Communications Commission to decide, one way or the other, on a petition for ruling it filed in December.

The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Dec. 21 asked the FCC to stay enforcement of its decision to streamline the franchising process for cable and telephone companies, including instituting a shot clock on negotiations with cities, after which operators can opt for a default franchise agreement.

“The commission has failed to respond to our request for stay for over 60 days," NATOA said Monday. "All we want the commission to do is to grant or deny our request. This foot-dragging on behalf of the commission is hypocritical, especially when a majority of the commission believes it is reasonable to impose arbitrary deadlines on local government franchising decisions.”

The group -- along with the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Alliance for Community Media and the Alliance for Communications Democracy -- wrote FCC chairman Kevin Martin Monday asking for a response as to why nothing had happened while putting in another pitch for a stay.

National Cable & Telecommunications Association Asks D.C. U.S. Court of Appeals to Stay Portion of Federal Communications Commission Order Dealing with Exclusive Contracts with Owners of Apartments, Condos